Chapter 1161
“This year’s Rune League will be a conquest battle, a group team match utilizing the Underlings.”
Cheers burst forth from all directions.
Not only the representatives of both sides, but the entire audience present, all stared at the mana screen behind Ventres with faces full of anticipation.
On the screen, a map was spread out.
The venue for this Rune League, the Lake Forest of Underling, was shaped like a diamond.
The far left and right ends were narrow, and it widened as it moved toward the middle. The central zone was so wide that it seemed it would make an excellent battlefield.
And scattered across this map were thirteen “conquest points”.
“First, let me explain the victory condition of this Rune League.”
Ventres opened his mouth.
“The duration of the Rune League is five days. Regardless of how many representatives survive, only the faction with the greatest number of ‘conquest points’ at the moment the 120 hours end will be declared the victor.”
‘Oh-ho.’
Simon, along with the Dark Alliance students, wore confident expressions. Having gone through countless tests and evaluations back in Keyzen, these rules were familiar to them, and they felt assured in adapting quickly.
The Holy Federation side also looked relatively relaxed. Though they lacked the same kind of training experience as Keyzen, they believed they were at an advantage, since conquest battles generally placed more importance on defense than offense.
“Now then, let me explain about the most crucial element, the ‘conquest points’.”
When Ventres activated the device in his hand, several circular markers appeared across the map.
“The actual locations of the conquest points will differ, but I have placed markers here for convenience. Each faction will start out by holding one conquest point at their respective far end. This is called the base camp. I will mark them to aid understanding.”
The map slid smoothly, focusing on the conquest point at the far left.
At the far left conquest point, the label ‘1-A’ appeared.
“Shall we begin? Just a little ahead from the left base camp, the 1st zone conquest point, lies the 2nd zone. The 2nd zone has two conquest points. They are relatively close to the base camp and easy to defend.”
Two circles appeared, labeled ‘2-A’ and ‘2-B’.
“Going a little further from the 2nd zone, you enter a vast forest. This is the 3rd zone, with three conquest points.”
3-A, 3-B, 3-C. Three conquest points lined up across the wide forest zone.
“And finally, we have the 4th zone, the widest part of this battlefield, with vast plains and open fields. Though it is the largest, there is only a single conquest point in the 4th zone.”
At the very center of the battlefield, the marker ‘4-A’ appeared.
Maelyn, who had been listening beside Simon, crossed her arms.
“There’s no way they can split the conquest points peacefully, a clash is inevitable because of the central 4th zone.”
“How malicious!”
Kamibarez also flapped her wings, adding her comment.
Meanwhile, Ventres’ explanation continued. Beyond the central 4th zone, the layout was mirrored.
After the 4th zone came 5A, 5B, 5C, which were likely in enemy territory. Then 6A, 6B, and finally the enemy base camp, 7A.
“To make it clear at a glance, the layout is as follows.”
With a wave of Ventres’ arm, the labels appeared all at once.
<1A>
2A 2B
3A 3B 3C
4A
5A 5B 5C
6A 6B
<7A>
It didn’t seem overly complicated. Here, the Dark Alliance would begin from 1A, while the Holy Federation would begin from 7A. The conditions themselves were equal, with no side having an inherent advantage or disadvantage.
“Next, let me explain the most crucial part, the actual ‘conquest’.”
The screen changed.
On ground overgrown with grass and flowers, a pillar of alien metal stood tall.
“Conquest cannot be carried out by summoned undead or divine beasts, only by the twenty representatives themselves. If a representative directly touches the pillar while infusing it with Darkness or Holiness, the conquest point is claimed.”
To demonstrate, a priest, seemingly an official, walked slowly onto the screen.
One wished he would simply demonstrate quickly, but perhaps because of his strong ego, he kept waving awkwardly toward the mana camera.
‘Don’t tell me.’
Though his hood was pulled low, the sea-colored hair and tall figure were unmistakable. It was clearly Israfil. From afar on the Holy Federation side, the sound of Lete coughing could be heard.
Soon, Israfil spread her arms and hugged the pillar tightly. The green pillar rapidly turned white. As the pillar became completely bleached,
Fwaaah!
From the pillar’s base, Holiness spread across the ground. The nearby flowers and trees gleamed with a white sheen, as if infused with holiness. The onlookers gasped in admiration.
Simon even lifted his hips slightly, staring into the screen as though being pulled in.
‘So this is ‘conquest!’
The next screen showed a necromancer, likely Jane, who coolly pressed her palm against the pillar. The pillar quickly turned black. Once the conquest was complete, Darkness spread across the ground, turning the grass and trees dusky and making flowers wither and droop.
“…This makes us feel like the villains.”
Hearing Aizel muttering from the back row, Simon let out a quiet laugh.
This was simply the difference between the attributes of Darkness and Holiness, it couldn’t be helped.
“The amount of Darkness or Holiness infused affects the speed of conquest. The exact time, you will need to check on site.”
Ventres glanced at the paper in his hand, then continued.
“There are benefits to successful conquest. As I mentioned earlier, the greatest feature of the Underlings swarming this Lake Forest is their contagion.”
Kududududuk!
Around the conquest point claimed by Jane, Underlings not in their natural state but blackened by Darkness erupted from the ground.
“Not in their natural state, but corrupted by either Darkness or Holiness, Underlings will rise one by one from each conquest point to defend it. Should the representatives wish, they may also issue commands for them to attack the enemy camp.”
The spectators exclaimed in awe at the explanation.
Even Simon felt that this Rune League had been very well prepared.
“As time passes, the corrupted Underlings will grow stronger. On days one and two, they will be easy enough to defeat, but by the fifth day, even representatives will need to exert considerable effort to fend them off.”
On the screen, massive Underlings appeared. Towering higher than the surrounding trees, they swung their arms and shattered tree trunks in half.
Maelyn and Kamibarez took notes diligently.
“In the early stages of the Rune League, the main focus will be fierce clashes between representatives, but in the later stages, with only a few representatives surviving, Underling management will be the key.”
“You’re right, Maelyn! If we seize as many conquest points as possible in the beginning, things will be easier later on!”
Hearing this, Simon nodded in agreement.
“…The first day will already be fierce.”
Simon, as well as everyone else, began to feel the tension rising. The reality that they would soon step into that battlefield and fight directly was sinking in.
“Now, the most important explanations are finished.”
Ventres raised the paper in his hand as he spoke.
“Lastly, I will explain the additional rules agreed upon between both factions. First, regarding the base camps. If either base camp, 1A or 7A, is conquered, that side will lose, regardless of the number of conquest points they hold after 120 hours.”
Ah!
Even the spectators seemed shocked, their murmurs growing louder across the venue.
This rule had greatly increased the importance of defending the base camp.
“Yes, though realistically, it is unlikely to happen…”
Ventres continued in his languid tone.
“If both sides manage to conquer each other’s base camps, then victory will be decided by the original rule, based on the number of conquest points remaining. Now then, next.”
Pop!
The screen changed, and a clock appeared.
“For each 24-hour cycle in neutral territory, there will be a six-hour period designated as ‘truce time’. During this time, representatives may not leave their base camps, and only Underling attacks and defenses will take place.”
Simon nodded in understanding.
A rest period had been added during which representatives could not act. If they quickly seized conquest points and gathered many Underlings beforehand, they could create a favorable situation during the truce. Even while they slept, their Underlings would continue to fight.
Pop!
The next screen changed again, this time explaining the “barriers” the representatives would wear.
“Fighting in the Rune League while wearing barrier suits is already eighty years in the past. Since many issues of fairness arose, both sides have agreed to introduce the latest technology for this Rune League.”
Simon had seen something similar back in Keyzen, but this time, the representatives would fight wearing defense artifacts around their necks that used dummy magic.
In essence, it was close to barehanded combat with almost no barrier protection.
However, if someone suffered a piercing wound, a powerful burn, or any damage severe enough to be fatal, then the strong dummy barrier would activate, preventing ‘death’ but confirming ‘elimination’, and teleporting the participant via a magic circle.
At that moment, the eliminated person’s body would turn blue and be carried away. Attacking someone in that state would be counted as an ‘elimination’.
“……”
“……”
Simon and Lete, both intent on preventing any deaths, watched this explanation with the utmost concentration.
After all, by the time one reached Keyzen or Efnelle’s 3rd year, one’s attacks could be strong enough to shatter barriers and actually kill opponents. It seemed Jane and Israfil had arranged these rules precisely to prevent that.
Even so, Simon strongly felt that if someone truly intended to kill, they still could.
“Now, lastly. An additional element has been introduced to provide a variable in Underling management.”
Ventres lifted his gaze.
“Please watch the screen.”
As the screen changed—
――――――――!!
A roar burst forth, causing spectators to cover their ears or shrink back in shock. A massive tree monster, hardly even worthy of being called an Underling, was rooted in place as it bellowed. Around it, countless Underlings large and small filled the scene.
“Among the Underlings exist powerful individuals. Currently, two of the strongest ‘Ancient Underlings’ have taken root somewhere in this forest. Even now, they proclaim themselves as new dungeon masters and expand their forces.”
His voice rose in intensity.
“These two Ancient Underlings each reside near the 3rd zone, closer to the Dark Alliance, and the 5th zone, closer to the Holy Federation. They are so enormous that we’ve used illusion barriers to conceal them from sight. If one side succeeds in slaying an Ancient Underling, the rate of Underling multiplication at their conquest points will nearly double. As time passes, this difference will become overwhelming. However—”
Ventres closed his eyes.
“The Ancient Underlings in this Lake Forest are extremely powerful. We’ve enhanced them even further with various drugs. Some staff and mercenaries attempted to evaluate their strength and all failed. I recommend at least six representatives gather before attempting to challenge one.”
Everyone’s jaws dropped at that.
If it required six representatives to defeat, then those six would have to abandon defending conquest points, making it practically impossible to hunt them down.
For now, it seemed wisest to set aside the Ancient Underlings and simply observe the situation.
“All explanations are finished. Now then—”
Ventres raised his arm.
“Let us begin the first day of the Rune League!”
Deafening cheers erupted through the venue.
The representatives rose in unison, adjusting their attire. At the center of the stage, an enormous teleportation magic circle had been prepared.
‘Let’s go.’
Simon’s eyes blazed with determination.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters